Anglican Leader Reiterates Stance Against Gay Marriages

Archbishop of Canterbury says marriage is "between a man and a woman."

LONDON, April 8 (AP)--The spiritual leader of the Church of England remained firm Sunday in his opposition to gay marriages, saying such unions would "muddy the waters" of traditional marriages.

Asked during a BBC radio interview whether the church could accept same-sex marriages, Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey responded, "No, I would say very firmly."

He insisted that marriage was a "relationship between a man and a woman," suggesting that other relationships were types of "friendship."

"People can have deep friendship, and call it friendship, but we don't have to muddy the waters in terms of calling it marriage," Carey said.

The church's stance, combined with its strong support of chastity out of wedlock, has frustrated some homosexual groups. When Carey led a service at a Methodist conference in the United States last year, about 100 pro-gay demonstrators briefly interrupted with chants of "extend the table!"